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oracle0422 — Book 9 Chapter 7 Goodbyes Part 3
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#academy #alpha #fanfiction #foh #unitednations #xgen #xgeneration #xmen #faytes
Published: 2016-02-13 13:51:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 670; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 0
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It was finally time for the team to leave. They were all dressed in their uniforms made of black kevlar bearing the gold X for the X-Men and then the A for Alpha. Landon had dug out his old uniform that had been repaired after his fight with Wanda and just as the students he still had his alpha pin since it was his team back when he was a student. The others in the house were in the living room to wish them luck. Rachel was nervously spinning her bracelet as Landon told the others he’d see them later. Landon’s attention turned to Rachel as he pulled his mask down to cover his face. “Hey gorgeous, what I keep saying about this bracelet.”, he smiled placing a hand over hers to stop the bracelet from spinning. “No worries alright? I’m coming back to you. I’ve still gotta marry you and live our happily ever after.”, he smirked leaning in kissing her soundly. “I love you more than even I can put into words. I will come back to you no matter what that much I promise.”, he whispered softly his forehead pressed against hers. Rachel sighed softly. “I love you too. You better come back because I don’t think I...”, she frowned a little her words trailing off as he kissed her again. “I’m coming back. Now I need to go. Just keep an ear out for us getting back.”, he winked before stepping away from her to the rest of the team. “Alright everyone hold on tight. I’ve been told this can make you throw up the first few times.”, he explained grabbing Inola and Ororo’s hands as they stood in a circle before he moved the hand holding Inola’s enough to press the button on the watch and the seven disappeared from the living room.
Inside the U.N the meeting was starting. Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, the current president of the general assembly of the U.N, started the meeting with his opening speech welcoming the representatives from around the world before they had their minute of silent prayer or meditation. Then it was all the normal formalities till finally they got to the larger subject of the meeting. It was finally that they reached the international peace and human rights portion of the agenda that things started to get heated in the meeting hall. There was much back and forth between the delegates on weather mutants were a world threat and if they deserved to be treated with the same rights as the rest of the population. The Academy students had taken their positions around the meeting hall waiting for someone to strike, they wanted the FOH to make the first move so then they could make the second and start eliminating FOH as well as those delegates that were looking to ensure mutants were never given equal treatment. Landon and his team landed in a remote area that he at least knew wouldn’t be as easily seen. Landon held back throwing up, he’d been one of Forge’s human test subjects with the prototype. After all he couldn’t let a piece of tech go to Rose unless he knew she and the others would be safe using it. However the six members of alpha all forced themselves to swallow their vomit. “That is worse than teleporting with my dad.”, Stephan spoke quietly his face a bit contorted trying to get the taste of his vomit out of his mouth. Landon held back a laugh. “Noted. Alright now I’m going to sync up my tablet to the security feed around the building. Then we can move out. And just remember if you run into the Academy team the tips we were given.”, he instructed getting his tablet out and using it to hack the security system of the U.N to gain access to the video feeds. “You know some people might consider your ‘talent’ there dangerous.”, Inola teased. “I’m sure they would but I don’t use it for evil. All set let’s divide up and make sure we save as many people as we can.”, Landon instructed.
Stephan and Inola split off from the group making their way to the main lobby, Stephan flying Inola up with him so they were both perched in the vaulted ceiling to avoid being seen as easily and to have the best view. Nathan and Marco started doing their scans trying to pick out the FOH in the building. Both had already created a link between the teams collective minds while keeping them all hidden from Arie Frost’s telepathy. ‘Ororo I want you to start searching the first thirteen floors. Let me know if you find a bomb. Taylor take the next thirteen same deal and I’ll start at the top and work my way down to you as fast as I can.’, Landon instructed as they got into elevators to start their hunt for the bombs. Marco and Nathan knew they had to wait till the trio had at least gotten to their floors before considering pulling the alarm as it would shut down the elevators. It didn’t take long for the shit to hit the fan in the meeting hall. Nathan picked up the thoughts of a translator inside. ‘Marco we need to get into the meeting hall now. Shots are going to be fired.’, Nathan explained as the duo started for the meeting hall. ‘Stephan...Inola be ready because people are going to start rushing the doors soon.’, Marco warned to the pair. Stephan’s owl eyes were wide and ready. Inola had her psychic bow drawn ready for trouble to start.
Nathan and Marco’s entrance into the meeting hall was timed as the same moment that the translator had raised his gun. “GUN DOWN!”, Nathan and Marco shouted. The room erupted in chaos. ‘Fucking Institute brats.’, Shaw swore. ‘Let’s move. we can’t let them stop this.’, he instructed the others. The shot was still fired, aimed for Mogens Lykketoft. Nathan focused as best he could to stop the bullet, his left eye starting to glow as he tapped into his telekinesis. Mogens was frozen in terror his eyes wide and mouth open in a yell as he looked at the bullet suspended in air inches from his face. Marco rushed forward pulling Mogens out of the way so Nathan could release the bullet. The bullet flying into the wall imbedding itself into the wall. Morgens looked over his shoulder to Marco in his uniform his face hidden behind his mask. “Tha...thank you.”, he stammered. “Welcome now I suggest you evacuate sir.”, Marco nodded before leaving Morgens side to pull the fire alarm. People from the meeting room were already starting to rush out in fear. Stephan and Inola watching them wanting to ensure they got out safely. However the academy team had other plans. Salena came flying out of the meeting hall swooping down at the terrified crowd trying to force them to not leave. Shaw was rushing out as well starting a fight by punching a random person, he didn’t care who. ‘We got trouble in the lobby’, Inola reported in started to unleash her psychic arrows at Salena to bring her down. ‘We got trouble in the meeting hall.’, Nathan reported as he and Marco were back to back now under attack by FOH members who’d infiltrated the U.N.
‘We’ll get down to help as soon as we finish our searches.’, Taylor answered as he ran through a floor stopping as he found a bomb. ‘Got one on floor fifteen, men's’ bathroom near the elevators. At least people are taking the fire alarm seriously. Floor is emptying quick.’, Taylor reported. ‘Got another on the fifth floor, fourth office on the left from stairs.’, Ororo reported continuing her search for the bombs. ‘Got it guys. Inola keep Salena out of the air as best you can. Stephan you got Shaw, remember he’s weak on the left.’, Landon instructed as he stopped finding one of the bombs. He took a breath this was the fourth he’d come across since starting up on the 38th floor. He focused on the bomb looking at the timer ticking down. In a blink of the eye the rudimentary homemade bomb changed to a green bouncy ball. Landon rubbed his temples out of breath. It wasn’t even from all the running that he found himself drained. Each bomb he had to change took so much out of him. They had few organic parts so it was a strain on his abilities to transfigure them into something harmless. ‘Okay floor 34 clear.’, Landon reported in rushing to the stairs to start down to the next floor. Stephan swooped down and caught Shaw off guard knocking him down hitting him from the left. “Leave these people alone. They are innocent.”, Stephan demanded. “Innocent my ass. They are humans. They call you freak and you defend them. They want to put you in a side show rather than treat you like a person yet you’d defend them. How someone of the Demon King’s line could be so weak.”, Shaw glared throwing a punch at Stephan. Stephan’s appearance had it’s own effect on the crowd who were now more than eager to get to the doors.
Most people were finally getting out of the building while a battle raged inside. Stephan and Inola were in the lobby fighting Shaw and Salena. Inola having been pulled down from her perch by Salena. However Inola had let her do that as it forced Salena to the ground to fight her in hand to hand combat instead. In the meeting hall Nathan and Marco were fighting against FOH as well as Adam and Arie. “Aw the all powerful Umbra is scared to use his full powers. what think you’ll blow something up again? Kill again?”, Adam taunted. “Always, but that’s because I’m not a killer like you. And now I can see why your cousin decked you. You talk too much.”, Nathan defended hitting Adam with a right hook forcing him to stumble out of the meeting hall. ‘Let’s keep the Academy in one place.’, Nathan suggested. Marco nodded keeping his focus on Arie as he got her to battle him out of the meeting hall. ‘Taylor..Ororo...head back to the lobby. We aren’t going to have enough time to get to them all. I’ll do what I can but the team needs back up since there are still FOH in the building and they need to focus on the academy.’, Landon instructed. Taylor sighed but turned back to the stairs starting down to the lobby as Ororo did getting their instructions. Landon was on to the 30th floor struggling with the amount of power he was using as he changed another bomb into something not dangerous, this time a doll.
Ororo reached the lobby first seeing a man aiming a gun at Stephan’s back while he was fighting Shaw. “Oh that’s not happening.”, Ororo said glaring as she rushed at the man tacking him the gun going off and hitting the ceiling instead. Ororo wrestled the gun from the man and hit him with the butt of the gun knocking him out. “No shooting my boyfriend.”, she snorted before tossing the gun aside having no taste for weapons like that. Stephan glanced over his shoulder hearing Ororo and shook his head before turning his attention quickly back to Shaw. Ororo had moved on to fighting another FOH to disarm them. Taylor rushed out of the stairs and looked at the chaos. Marco battling Arie, Nathan fighting Adam, Stephan facing off against Shaw, Inola keeping Salena grounded, and not so sweet Ororo creating a pile of weapons she’d taken from the humans. “I’m missing all the fun.”, Taylor chuckled starting a controlled fire to begin to herd the FOH into a group forcing them to the doors. “We don’t want to hurt any of you. This building is going to blow and you know it. Now get to safety.”, Taylor was ordering. Ororo had formed a ball in her hands dropping it and unleashing the windows she’d thought about. As this was on a smaller scale than the storm she’d unleashed in training outside with Stephan, Hiro, Evan and Inola so she had more control over the winds. She was using them to move anyone that had been knocked out in the direction of the doors and pushing the doors open to have them land out in the street where it was safe.
Landon had changed another bomb and had to lean against a wall closing his eyes. There were just too many for him. They didn’t have time for him to get to all of them. ‘Guys we are going to need to get out of here and fast. I can’t get to all the bombs. Are all the civilians out? Nathan or Marco do a scan.’, Landon advised the team as he went to the stairs to start to get down to them. Nathan knocked Adam out taking a breath before doing his scan of the building. ‘Everyone is out coz. Just us and the Academy.’, Nathan reported. ‘Good I’ll be down as fast as I can. Just stay together.’, Landon instructed starting to run down the stairs. He didn’t have much time to get to them before the building would go. The Academy hadn’t even been worried about the bombs the three still standing keeping their focus on attacking the institute team. Shaw was furious that the institute team had cause their mission to be a failure. There hadn’t even been on casualty. “You realize this place is going to blow with us in it?”, Stephan asked while still fighting Shaw. “I don’t care. Because as long as we can take out some X-brats your grandfather will see it as a win.”, Shaw sneered. The two teams were locked in combat as Landon reached the lobby forcing himself to not collapse yet. He had to get the kids to safety. That was his priority. He looked to his watch the bomb would go off in less than a minute. His ocean blue eyes looked to the ten teenagers. He couldn’t let any of them get hurt. Dislike the Academy or not they were just kids and some were related to his cousins.
With time against him and no better thought Landon used the last of his energy focusing hard on the teen teenagers. “SNOW GLOBE!”, he shouted. All nine conscious, Adam still knocked out, turned their heads hearing Landon shout and none really understanding why he shouted something like ‘snow globe’. But then without warning everything changed. The world around them became gigantic and they all lost their footing falling into what looked like snow but was just glitter. “What the fuck did he do?”, Shaw demanded as he saw the now giant figure of Landon slump to the ground near them picking up the globe. “Hold on guys…”, Nathan instructed grabbing Inola who was closest to him. Stephan quickly grabbed Ororo wrapping her in his wings. Despite his better judgement Taylor took hold of Salena and Marco grabbed Arie as they all tumbled around in the globe. Taylor, Stephan, Nathan and Marco all landed hard on the bottom of the snow globe their bodies acting as cushion for Salena, Ororo, Inola and Arie. “Hey let me go!”, Salena and Arie demanded initially when being grabbed but quickly shut up as they felt the world shift. Shaw using the force of the movement to slow himself and his twin Adam. “Huh… what…”, Adam questioned starting to come around. Ororo peaked out from Stephan’s feathers. “We...we’re...he put us in a snow globe…”, Ororo stammered. “Why the fuck did he put us all in here?”,Arie demanded trying to pull loose of Marco. “To save us.”, Marco said not letting go. “Now just stay still, trust me you are about the bottom of the list of girls I’d want to keep close. But till we are out of this I at least won’t let you get injured.”, Marco rolled his eyes.
“Save us from what?”, Salena asked trying to look around despite being pressed into Taylor not just because he held her there but her own fear. Taylor wasn’t going to mention that Salena could probably loosen her grip on his sides. She was scared and he couldn’t blame her. He’d be freaking too if he didn't know Landon and that he was grade A hero. Outside the globe Landon was barely able to keep his eyes open as he brought the globe tight to his chest trying to get to his feet. But after all those bombs and now putting all ten of them into the globe to protect them he was drained. He could hear the bombs starting to go off on the upper levels. He forced himself to his feet though stumbled. Pieces of the ceiling starting to fall around him. “From that.”, Nathan explained keeping a tight grip on Inola as they were being jostled again with the stumbled movements of Landon. “He’s got nothing left. He’s used too much of his powers…”, Stephan commented expressing his fear as he looked up and the tired face of Landon. “he’s not going to save us.”, Shaw said simply. “We will die in this stupid fucking globe.”, he added. “SHUT UP SHAW! THIS IS LANDON ROUSE BRYANT! THIS IS PRIME! THIS IS THE MAN THAT PUT WANDA AWAY! HE’LL DO IT!”, Ororo shouted from the safety of Stephan’s wings and arms. “But how?”, Arie asked as the ceiling caved in the floors above them crumbled down onto Landon. A beam slamming Landon to the ground breaking his left leg and pinning the right from movement. Landon used himself to protect the globe of teenagers. The fire from the explosion burning through his uniform and burning at his back. He yelled in pain and used his last bit of energy to hit the button on his watch disappearing from the rubble as rescue trucks were on site starting to try and put out the flames and get inside to rescue anyone left inside.
Cora Lee had gone to meeting malcolm at the train station, too nervous to stay put at the house. Tommy was trying to not get dizzy watching as Lily and Rachel paced in the living room their eyes darting to the terrace fearful for Landon and the team. When they heard the thud and a groan of pain Rachel was the first to the terrace. Her cobalt/azure eyes went wide in terror as she looked at Landon laying on his stomach clutching something tight in his arms. Her eyes surveyed his burning back that seemed to vary from first to third degree then down to his left leg where she could see bone sticking out where it shouldn’t. “Oh god… Landon….”, she managed to breath as she rushed to him gently taking the globe not giving it even a look as she set it aside opting to take his hand tightly in hers and stroking his hair. “Please baby….please be okay. You promised. You promised you were going to marry me. That we’d have our happily ever after.”, she whispered starting to cry. “Where are we?”, Shaw demanded. “Shut up Shaw. Landon just saved all our lives.”, Nathan said not looking away as he looked up from the globe at Rachel crying. “Please be okay coz.”, Nathan said softly looking to Landon. Lily rushed out to the terrace and covered her mouth somewhere between wanting to cry and to scream in anger. “Landon...oh god Landon…”, Lily managed to breath walking closer kneeling by her cousin checking his pulse cautiously. “Thank god he’s still breathing. What’s… what’s this?”, Lily asked reaching and picking up the globe.
The movement jostled the teenagers around. Stephan, Nathan, Marco and Taylor not for a moment having released their holds on the girls taking the hits of being moved around in the globe. Lily blinked looking inside and then looked to Landon. “Oh my god. No wonder you are out coz….”, She exclaimed looking back to the globe counting faces. “Ten? Wait oh shit he saved the academy kids. Hope you Frost brats realize you are lucky my cousin has a big kind heart.”, Lily shook her head sitting back down by Landon. Tommy rushing in looking from Landon to Rachel to Lily. “He… he needs a healer. How...how does that watch work?”, Rachel asked crying wanting to just get her fiance to a healer. “I know how. I messed with Billy’s back in September at Ash’s wedding.”, Tommy volunteered kneeling by Landon gently picking up his right hand. “Everyone just hang onto Landon.”, Tommy instructed. Rachel was already holding tight to his left hand. Lily held the globe tight with one arm and grabbed Landon’s shoulder with her free hand. Tommy input the recovery center at the institute before pressing the button on the watch. As they suddenly appeared on the floor of the recovery center a motion alarm started to sound. The only three people on duty at the school all came rushing hearing the alarm.
Kisa was there first being closer as she was the only healer on staff. “Landon?! Oh god…”, Kisa rushed over. Lily and Tommy quickly moved out of Kisa’s way, the sudden movement jostling the teams inside the globe again. Kisa’s hands quickly reached for his back, her touch gentle as both hands started to glow golden passing her healing to Landon as he was slowly engulfed in the golden light. Salena peaked, from Taylor’s chest, in curiosity having never seen someone healed before. Forge and Aurelia were the next to run in there eyes darting around the room seeing Rachel, Lily, Tommy, and the injured Landon being healed by Kisa. “Where’s team alpha?”, Forge asked. Lily blinked pulled from her trance holding up the globe. “In here. Landon put them and the academy team in this to keep them safe from whatever was going down and used himself as their shield.”, Lily explained. Forge and Aurelia moved closer looking into the globe counting the students. Aurelia raised an eyebrow seeing Taylor and Marco holding Salena and Arie defensively. But she noticed as the globe was moved the teenagers were being jostled around and she tried to not laugh realizing that Taylor and Marco had put aside their contempt for the Academy students to keep them from getting injured. She could also see Nathan was using himself to keep Inola from injury and since she couldn’t really see Ororo she figured she was inside Stephan’s wings which were wrapped around him and her.
“Well till Landon wakes up we’ll need to find another way to get them out.”, Aurelia commented. “Tommy take the globe to the Haven find Solangel. She should be able to reverse Landon’s powers. Then they are all brought back on neutral ground.”, Forge instructed. Lily carefully handed the globe to her fiance. “Just be careful. My nephew’s in there.”, Lily commented. “No worries babe.”, Tommy winked before racing out in a blur. The ten teenagers inside held tight as the force of Tommy’s running forced them all into each other. Kisa slowly moved back from Landon whose injuries were healed like they’d never been but was still unconscious. Rachel holding his left hand tight. “Wake up baby. Please wake up. Why hasn’t he woken up?”, she asked looking up at Kisa tears on her face. Aurelia frowned looking at her niece. “He’s healed but he used a lot of his power today. Just putting those ten kids into that globe would be enough to drain him. He’s going to need some rest. Let’s carefully moved him onto a bed.”, Kisa instructed. Aurelia and Forge moved to pick him up. “I..I’ve got him.”, Lily nodded focusing on her cousin who gently lifted into the air and was just as carefully rotated and laid onto a bed in a recovery room. Rachel followed and as soon as he was on the bed laid down on a section of the bed holding his hand tightly resting her head against his shoulder. “You’ll be okay. You just need to wake up now. Remember you promised me.”, Rachel whispered squeezing his hand. Forge sighed placing a hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s let Landon rest. Rachel will watch him.”, he said softly. Kisa, Aurelia and Lily nodded leaving Landon alone with Rachel.
Over at the Haven Merrick was upstairs putting Faelan down for his afternoon nap before he’d head to Aonair Mac Tíre to do some work. Solangel and Aislinn were downstairs in the living room watching the news report about the bombing at the U.N building neither aware that the institute had sent a team let alone that Landon was involved. The report said that there were no casualties and that a number of radicals from a group called the Friends of Humanity had been arrested for placing the bombs, one in particular for trying to kill the president of the U.N. However a number of those being arrested were claiming at mutants were involved and they were to blame not them. The report moved to an interview with Mogens Lykketoft. “Where there mutants involved in this attack?”, the reporter asked. “We were not attacked by mutants. I was saved by them.”, Mogens explained. Solangel and Aislinn both turned to look at each other at that. “What do you mean sir?”, the reporter inquired further. “Two young men in masked uniforms rushed and shouted ‘gun’ telling people to get down. The gun was fired the bullet aimed for me. I stood frozen in fear but the bullet stopped and I saw one of these masked young men in the crowd with a hand held up like he was stopping the bullet. And the other rushed to me pulling me out of the way as the other couldn’t hold the bullet longer. I owe those two young men my life. Whoever they are and if they are watching. Thank you.”, Mogens spoke directly to the camera. “Hmm wonder who that could have been…”, Solangel pondered.
The front door suddenly blew open letting in the cold November air as Tommy ran inside. He set the globe down on the table closing the door. Aislinn and Solangel both getting up quickly to see what was going on. And both blinked looking at Tommy. “Tommy? What’s going on dear?”, Aislinn asked. “Hi ma. Um actually need Solangel.”, Tommy greeted picking up the globe. The ten teenagers once against getting thrashed around unintentionally. Nathan groaned feeling the globe slam into his back and the Inola’s head into his chest. Solangel blinked and peered into the globe. “Well look at that. I see the little ones. And some extras. Want to tell me what happened? And what you want me to do about it?”, Solangel asked. “They went on a mission today. At the U.N and Landon went with them. To save their lives Landon put them in this.”, Tommy explained. “So what I need you to do is let them back out.”, he added with a smile. “Landon?”, Aislinn asked. “Where’s my son? Is he okay?”, she asked now worried. “He’s at the institute. Doctor Kearney was healing him when I left. Lily and Rachel are with him. But he’s out and I don't’ think we want this change to be permanent for the tikes.”, Tommy answered wanting to reassure his foster mother than her son was okay. Solangel pouted looking at the Academy kids. “Can I just free my peachy babies?”, she asked. “No Aunt Brownie. All of them. I brought them to the haven not just so you could do this, since only you can with Landon out, but because it’s neutral ground.”, Tommy sighed. “Oh fine…”, Solangel pouted taking the globe. “You academy beasties better be grateful that my Lanny and my sweet little firebug and sweet biscotti saved your collective asses.”, she said narrowing her eyes at the Academy students before putting the globe carefully on the floor focusing on the teenagers as they should look.
The globe burst and all ten were back to their normal sizes laying on the floor. Taylor and Marco quickly let Salena and Arie go now that they were free. Nathan let Inola go. “Ugh okay you can get off me now.”, Nathan groaned. “Oh but I was having fun.”, Inola laughed getting up and offering a hand to Nathan. “I’m sure.”, Nathan rolled his eyes getting up. Arie and Salena were quick to get to their feet and away from Taylor and Marco. Shaw was helping his twin Adam back up to his feet when Arie rushed to him and slugged him with a right hook. “YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!!! YOU DIDN’T EVEN MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO HELP SALENA OR ME!!! YOU DO HAVE ANY IDEA HOW GOD DAMN DEMEANING IT IS THAT A FUCKING X-BRAT’S INSTINCT WAS TO PROTECT ME WHEN MY OWN COUSIN DID JACK SHIT!? OOO I COULD KILL YOU SHAW!”, Arie shouted. “Come on Salena we are going back to the Academy and taking boiling hot showers to wash off the stink of Hamiltons.”, Arie snorted tugging Salena to the door. “Um right. Bye Taylor…. thanks.”, Salena said glancing back over her shoulder to the shaggy dirty blonde haired honey eyed fire mutant with a small smile. “Oh boy I think you have a fan.”, Tommy teased nudging Taylor. “Ew. I’ve got a beautiful girlfriend.”, Taylor shuddered. Shawn rubbed his jaw as he silently walked out with Adam. Shaw couldn’t understand it. Why had Landon saved them? Why had Taylor and Marco tried to protect Arie and Salena in the globe?
“Ungrateful brats.”, Solangel grumbled. “Perhaps but they won’t forget who saved their lives today.”, Aislinn commented thinking about her injured son. “What is all the yelling about?”, Merrick demanded coming down the stairs. “I’m trying to get Faelan to take a…”, he trailed off looking to the foyer and seeing the teenagers. A look and fielding of relief seeing that his nephew and Inola were safe. “Well I’m not ungrateful. Thanks for the save handsome.”, Inola smiled looking to Nathan before turning her attention to Merrick. She tilted her head a little looking him over. She remembered how Landon said Merrick shirtless would just be a bit broader than him and only have the one tattoo. Made her wish he’d not wear a shirt at the Sanctuary. “Hey bossman. They yelling was your cousin Arie. Apparently she didn’t take kindly to it being Marco and Taylor that used themselves to keep them from getting injured while her cousin did nothing. Personally I’ll not complain about getting my neck saved by Landon putting us in that globe and then your nephew here shielding me with his body inside the globe.”, Inola explained. Nathan rolled his shoulders wincing knowing he was bruised. “You’re welcome Inola. I’m glad I wasn’t near Salena or Arie. Can’t say I’d be willing to risk myself for them. But a teammate, yeah. And hey Uncle Merrick. Sorry for disturbing my cousin.”, Nathan smiled to his Uncle. “Ahem...you two going to get off the floor and maybe break the embrace? We want to know what’s happening inside those wings?”, Taylor teased nudging Stephan with his foot.
Stephan had not let go of Ororo holding her tightly his only thought was to keep her safe. Once they’d been released from the globe he still hadn’t let go. But then again Ororo had kissed him once they were back to their normal size. And Stephan had been inclined to kiss back ignore the yelling of Arie outside the enclosure of his wings. Ororo giggle a little pulling back from the kiss. “Since you are soo insistent Taylor.”, she rolled her eyes smiling at Stephan. Stephan could feel himself blushing under his feathers and mask but he loosened his grip on Ororo and let his wings open back up. Everyone all laughed a little at the sight of ororo’s messy ponytail laying on top of Stephan. “At least I never doubt that you’ll save me fluffy.”, Ororo smiled giving him a quick kiss before standing up and offering her hand to him. Stephan tried to not be embarrassed as he took her hand standing back up. Solangel gave Stephan a side hug. “Aw you are just adorable nephew.”, she teased. “So everyone’s okay then?”, Merrick asked. “yeah we’re fine. Landon saved all of us.”, Inola informed him. “Of course he did.”, Merrick rolled his eyes. “And it’s alright Nate. Don’t be sorry as long as you are okay.”, he smiled walking over and inspecting his nephew. “A few bumps and bruises. Nothing too bad then.”, he concluded. “Yeah I’m okay Uncle merrick. Most of my bruises are from being knocked around in the globe. Each movement my back hit the globe and that one’s solid skill hit my chest.”, Nathan laughed a little pointing to Inola.
“Oh I’m sure. Her head does seem rather thick.”, Merrick teased playfully knocking on Inola’s head. Inola wrinkled her nose as she narrowed her eyes pushing Merrick’s hand away playfully. “Hey lay off bossman.”, she smiled. “Just glad you’re safe.”, Merrick shrugged pulling her into a one armed hug. “Oh jeez now I’m getting affection. Careful ruin your rep people might think you care.”, she teased but hugged him back. “Little brat.”, Merrick smiled turning the hug into giving her a noogie. Inola laughed shaking her head. “We should get back to the school. Make sure Landon’s okay. Report in to Forge.”, Taylor sighed. “Solangel think you can get Faelan to take his nap. I’ve gotta go to work anyways. Thomas, you drive Solangel’s car and take Aislinn and some of the kids and I’ll take the rest in mine.”, Merrick instructed grabbing Solangel’s keys from the key rack tossing them to Tommy. Solangel thought to question why she had to stay. But Landon was hurt and he’s Aislinn’s son. So she nodded. “Yeah I can take care of the pup.”, Solangel agreed. “Alright so um if I’ve got ma. Stephan, Ororo should be able to squeeze into the car with his wings.”, Tommy was trying to figure how they’d load up. “Works. I can stuff Marco, Nathan, Taylor and Inola into the GTO.”, Merrick agreed. “SHOT GUN!”, Taylor declared running out the door. “HEY it’s My uncle’s car!”, Nathan shouted running out after Taylor. “You won’t mind getting squeezed in between Marco and my nephew I assume.”, Merrick teased walking out with Inola and Marco. Inola just smiled silently. Tommy, Aislinn, Stephan and Ororo got into the other car and both cars headed for the institute.
Landon was in the recovery center for the next three days. Rachel only left his side to use the bathroom. The others from the Manhattan house had come to visit, even bringing the guys from the band to check on him. Aislinn and David visited each day. John and Sarael also came to check on their daughter and future son-in-law. Team Alpha was down in the recovery center each day before and then after school. The room he’d been placed in had filled with flowers that people had ordered or just picked themselves. Strangeling a bouquet of flowers were ordered that simply said ‘We can’t formerly visit or say thank you. And my team won’t admit it. But we are in our debt Mister Bryant.’. When Rachel read the note she knew it was probably from Salena, the others on the Academy team had been Frosts and there was no way they’d ever thank Landon for something even saving their lives. The other teams of students and X-Men had finally returned from their missions. All going down to check on Landon. Many of the adults a bit angry at Duncan for pushing Landon into the mission. Even though Landon being there ensured the safety of some of their children and none wanted to think about how bad it could have gone without Landon. It still didn’t make it right that Duncan guilted Landon into the mission. Today Duncan had finally returned from his mission and having been debriefed on the other team's missions including the one for the U.N.
Once he changed Duncan made his way down to the recovery center and directly to the only occupied room. Rachel was sitting at Landon’s bedside holding his hand as Landon only looked like he was sleeping, the room was filled with flowers, cards and little trinkets basically anything people could think to bring him. “Well he was always a crowd favorite.”, Duncan commented looking at all the outpouring of love for Landon. Rachel turned her head to look at Duncan narrowing her eyes at him. She been so angry since the day Landon took this mission for Duncan. And now she was face to face with the man that as far as she was concerned had put her fiance into this hospital bed. “What do you want?”, Rachel demanded. Duncan blinked at the cold reaction from the generally sweet Rachel. “The same as anyone else that’s come to see him. I want to check on him. He did one of the bravest things a person can do. His actions saved my little girl. I’m here to say thank you.”, Duncan replied more than a little taken back by her tone. “He wouldn’t even be like this if you had just left him alone. He told you he didn’t want to be an X-Men. That his hero days were over when he started university. But you couldn’t leave him alone. Couldn’t let him just have his normal peaceful life.”, Rachel said getting up from her chair holding back her tears of anger.
“I wouldn’t have asked him if I had another choice. I needed him for that mission. we needed him. Imagine what would have happened to those kids if he hadn’t been there. He saved their lives. He did what I knew he would.”, Duncan folded his arms across his chest. Rachel glared up at him and without a second let alone first thought punched Duncan square in the nose. Her anger was enough to wake Nazri who had been sleeping at the foot of Landon’s bed. He raised his head his ice blue eyes staring at Duncan and his body uncoiled and moved ready to attack at his mistress’ command. “You knew he’d agree! You leveraged the lives of those kids to make him risk his! You used him! You sent him to the slaughter because you know him! You know he’s a hero! You know he’d risk his life to save theirs! You son of a bitch!”, Rachel started to yell unleashing over a week worth of anger on Duncan. Duncan holding his nose carefully popping it back into place. “It wasn’t to the slaughter. I just knew I needed him on that mission. He’s the best I have.”, Duncan said his voice a little off as he was pinching his nose to stop the bleeding. “YOU DON’T HAVE HIM! HE’S MINE DAMN IT!”, Rachel declared. Landon groaned on the bed the yelling starting to wake him. “Wha...What’s going on? Where...where am I?”, he asked his voice hoarse. He quickly sat up even though the sudden movement made him dizzy and started searching for the globe. “Where are they? Where’s the team?”, his last memory catching up to him of the building crashing down around him as he clutched the globe containing the two teams of teens to his chest.
“Landon!”, Rachel’s attention changing from Duncan and her tone instantly changing as she turned and hugged Landon tightly. Landon grunted a little under her weight hugging her back as he fell into the pillows. “Welcome back Landon.”, Duncan said letting his nose go now that it had stopped bleeding. “You’re in the recovery center. And don’t worry the team is just fine.”, he added. “How’d I get here? How long have I been out? Are the kids okay? Did anyone get hurt, other than apparently me?”, Landon asked his arms still around Rachel. Rachel kissed him just glad he was awake again but pulled back a little. “If you ever scare me like this again Landon Rouse Bryant.”, she shook her head giving him a stern look. “How did I scare you? Someone want to tell me what happened? Last thing I remember was putting the teams into a snow globe and picking them up trying to get out of the building.”, Landon rubbed his head with one hand keeping the other on Rachel. “The building collapsed on you, a beam pinned you down breaking your left leg. You managed to hit the watch and landed clutching the globe on the terrace. Me, Lily and Tommy found you. You had burns on your back and that leg…”, Rachel shuddered thinking about it as she absently reached to rub at his now healed left leg. “You were unconscious but breathing. Tommy knew how to use the watch and got all of us here to the recovery. Misses Kearney, Aunt Aurelia and Mister Forge all came rushing in. Misses Kearney healed you, but you used to much energy with your powers that you’ve been out for the last three days.”, Rachel explained.
Landon blinked. “Three days? What about the teams? They would be stuck in that snow globe.”, he asked frantic. “It’s okay. They are okay. Tommy rushed the globe to Solangel. She reversed your powers. The Academy team apparently wasn’t extremely grateful for the save. My understanding when you put the kids in the globe Nathan grabbed Inola, Stephan grabbed Ororo, Marco grabbed Arie, and Taylor grabbed Salena using themselves to prevent the girls from getting hurt while they were getting tossed around in the glob with each movement.”, Rachel assured. Landon laughed. “Oh I’m sure Arie and Salena just loved that.”, Landon rolled his eyes. “Yeah they weren’t happy and when they got free Arie punched Shaw, since Adam had been unconscious at the start, for not trying to help her and Salena leaving Taylor and Marco to do that instead. I believe she said something about needing to shower off the dirt of Hamiltons.”, Rachel laughed a little. “Just as I’m sure Marco and Taylor scrubbed themselves after that too. Not surprised that Stephan’s instinct was to shield Ororo from harm. He’s like Uncle Kurt. Anything to protect his girl. Something I’ve got in common with him.”, Landon smiled softly running a hand through Rachel’s hair before letting it rest lightly on her cheek. “I’m sorry I scared you beautiful. But I kept my promise. I came back to you. Nothing will ever keep me from you long. I love you.”, he smiled pulling her closer kissing her. Rachel sighed into the kiss returning it.
Duncan coughed a little to remind them he was there. “Yeah he’s still here.”, Rachel said annoyed. Landon laughed a little rubbing his lips together from the kiss. “I think you’ve gotten on the wrong side of a Howlett Duncan.”, Landon smirked. “Apparently. Here I thought she took after her father in temperament not her Uncle.”, Duncan nodded. “You’ve never seen Mister H truly mad then.”, Landon chuckled rubbing Rachel’s cheek a little to keep her calm. Rachel rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling looking at Landon. “I’m sure you want me to debrief on the mission. But I’m guess me being out for days Taylor or Marco already did given Alpha is their team these days.”, Landon sighed. “I’ve been debriefed. I just wanted to thank you. You know for saving my little girl and the other students.”, Duncan explained. Landon nodded. “It’s what I was trained to do.”, Landon shrugged. “And that’s why we need you back Landon. Things are getting too chaotic to have my best not on the team.”, Duncan explained. Rachel growled a little which got Landon to laugh softly kissing her. “Oh baby growling now? That’s hot.”, Landon smirked teasing. “Rachel can I talk to Duncan in private a minute. Go let my parents and the others know I’ve woken up. Knowing Uncle Mikali and Kisa they’ll want to check me out again.”, Landon requested. Rachel sighed. “Alright fine. I’ll be right back.”, Rachel said getting up. Nazri stood up and leapt off the bed hovering in hair gently flapping his wings as he followed Rachel, glaring at Duncan till he was out of sight.
“I think that dragon wants to eat me.”, Duncan commented grabbing a chair. “You think? Granted he wouldn’t he isn’t a meat eater. He’d just make you into a popsicle that will never melt. That’s how the bond works. Whatever Rachel is feeling he’s feeling. So take that for what it’s worth.”, Landon sighed. “That Rachel wants me dead.”, Duncan sighed. “To business Duncan. I know you guys are stretched thin. I know shit is hitting the metaphorical fan. But I’m not the best you have available. Sensai Logan is. You want the best, you reinstate him. You stop caring about what he saw while in that limbo. It’s not made him insane. All that time in limbo did to him was make him treasure his family that much more.”, Landon explained. “I can’t. At this point it’s the principle of things. He stays off rooster. And Logan is the best at what he does. Which if I needed people dead sure he’s the man to call. I don’t need people dead Landon. I need them alive. I need a master strategist. I need a leader. I need you. The X-Men need you. Hell we could use Cora Lee and Lily back too.”, Duncan sighed. “I can’t speak for my sister and my cousin.”, Landon sighed shaking his head. “I know. But you can speak for you. You’re needed Landon. I know you want more for your life. I know you plan after she graduates to marry that girl and go off traveling the world exploring, digging into secrets, uncovering the truths that are out there. And I want you to have that. But I’m just asking till then. That you come back. That you suit up and do what you were trained for. That you protect people, save them.”, Duncan explained. “I’ll think about it.”, Landon sighed. “Better than a no so I’ll take it.”, Duncan nodded standing back up as Rachel came back into the room.
“So as predicted Duncan asked me back. At least till we get married.”, Landon sighed after Duncan left him alone with Rachel. “Of course the bastard did.”, Rachel grumbled glancing to the closed door. “Can’t fault the man for trying. I did train my whole life to become and X-Men. To save people. To make a difference. Then I graduated and changed my mind. That I risked my life enough already. That I have you. And I shouldn’t make you worry about if I’m safe. The worst I want you to worry about is some idiot trying to mug me leaving the club.”, he sighed. “You’re a hero Landon. If you want to go back...I won’t stop you.”, she frowned. “Maybe I am. But at the end of the day…”,he smiled softly taking her left hand and kissing her ring. “The only h title I want is husband, yours.”, he smiled. Rachel smiled softly squeezing his hand. “Do you want to go back, Landon?”, she asked. “I admit it’s tempting. That I miss it. Miss the strategy, planning a mission, leading a team. I miss knowing I made a difference.”, he admitted. “Then I won’t stop you. I’ll hate it and be worried out of my mind, but I won’t stop you.”, she relented. “I wouldn’t be returning permanently. When we get married I’m one hundred percent out. We pack our bags and we are global.”, he assured. “Sounds like you’ve made your decision. You’re just making sure I wouldn’t leave you.”, she teased softly. “No. I’m doing the smart thing and talking to my better half. Because it stopped being just my life of being just about me the moment I put the ring on your finger. When we decided this..”, he said lacing his fingers with hers. “That this was forever.”, he smiled.
